Distance: 479.7 miles
Average Distance: 6.6 miles (per hike)
Summit Elevation: 1152' (Lowest) to 6512' (Highest)
Total Gain: 142,364'
Total Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 113.9
Average Gain: 1977' (per hike)
Total Hike Time: 292.5 hours
Average Miles/Hour: 1.64
Total Miles Driven: 15,803
Parking/Fees/Fares: $18
Difficulty: Easy to Very Strenuous
The Sierra Club San Diego Peaks List contained 100 peaks when I started and didn't change during my pursuit. This meta post provides concrete data of my experience completing the list. Driving long distances became a frequent occurrence and my perspective on what a long drive was changed over time. Your experience will vary depending on where you live and how many peaks you combine into single trips. A quick note about the Average Distance and Gain. I used the average per hike (72 hikes) instead of the average per peak because I climbed more than one official peak on many hikes. I thought it better represented the experience to list the averages per hike. For comparison, the average distance per peak was 4.8 miles and the average gain per peak was 1424'. The San Diego 100 Peaks List has some short, easy hikes, but also some beasts.
Raw stats don't always convey the level of effort. Many mountains on the list demand boulder scrambling, and more have a rampart of sharp things defending them. I often joke about pliers/tweezers being the 11th essential for hiking the Anza-Borrego peaks. While officially optional, a rope was required to reach the top of the summit block on Square Top.
Though I was also working on other goals along the way, it took me six years and one day of sustained effort to finish. I owe a monumental debt to everyone that went before and provided routes, reports, and inspiration. Thanks to the Sierra Club for selecting an exceptional group of San Diego County peaks and to list founder Paul Freiman. Thanks to Ben Baumann who created high quality reports and unique routes. Thanks to everyone who endured long drives and less than ideal conditions to climb these mountains with me.
Peakbagger map of Sierra Club San Diego Peaks List
The table below can be sorted by clicking on any column heading or filtered by typing in the search box.
Distance and Time in the table is for the round trip hike. Drive was the round trip drive in miles. Note: a zero (0) for distance, gain, time, and drive means that peak was part of a multi-peak day hike and the stats were combined for one peak in the trip.
| Peak | Summit | Distance (mi) | Gain | Time (hrs) | Drive (mi) | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianhead | 3968' | 9 | 3145' | 7.5 | 236 | report |
| Black Mountain #2 | 1554' | 4.2 | 775' | 1.5 | 134 | report |
| Iron Mountain | 2696' | 5.5 | 1101' | 1.8 | 8 | report |
| Woodson Mountain | 2897' | 7.2 | 2059' | 2.8 | 138 | report |
| Mt. Israel | 1346' | 4.4 | 1316' | 1.5 | 120 | report |
| Bernardo Mountain | 1152' | 7.5 | 900' | 2.2 | 120 | report |
| El Cajon Mountain | 3675' | 11.8 | 4073' | 5.7 | 174 | report |
| White Benchmark | 5326' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| The Thimble | 5779' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| San Ysidro Mountain | 6147' | 9.4 | 3248' | 7.5 | 286 | report |
| Bonny Benchmark | 4574' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Piedras Grandes | 2601' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Puff Benchmark | 2716' | 13.3 | 3520' | 10 | 306 | report |
| Moan Benchmark | 2939' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 00 | report |
| Indian Hill | 2280' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Cowles Mountain | 1591' | 5.9 | 1710' | 2 | 158 | report |
| Pyles Peak | 1379' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Kwaay Paay | 1194' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Fortuna Mountain | 1291' | 7 | 1983' | 3.3 | 5 | report |
| Mt. Gower | 3103' | 6.7 | 2150' | 4 | 180 | report |
| Boucher Hill | 5438' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 172 | report |
| Borrego Mountain | 1207' | 3.5 | 850' | 2.3 | 260 | report |
| Borrego East Butte | 1196' | 2.7 | 1020' | 1.8 | 5 | report |
| Pinyon Ridge | 4614' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Wilson Benchmark | 4573' | 11.8 | 2920' | 4.5 | 208 | report |
| Eagle Peak | 3226' | 4.4 | 1050' | 1.8 | 228 | report |
| Agua Tibia | 4779' | 16.7 | 3300' | 7.7 | 154 | report |
| Viejas Mountain | 4187' | 3.2 | 1475' | 2 | 198 | report |
| McGinty Mountain | 2183' | 4.9 | 1515' | 2.5 | 20 | report |
| Black Mountain #1 | 4051' | 4.9 | 1190' | 1.5 | 134 | report |
| Granite Mountain | 5633' | 8.2 | 2900' | 5 | 222 | report |
| Eagle Crag | 5077' | 18.2 | 3900' | 7.5 | 190 | report |
| Palomar Mountain | 6140' | 0.9 | 100' | 0.33 | 194 | report |
| Combs Peak | 6193' | 4.7 | 1140' | 2.5 | 25 | report |
| Ode Benchmark | 1512' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Kay Benchmark | 3587' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Sirens Peak | 4401' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| San Ysidro Mountain East | 5386' | 12 | 5465' | 11.66 | 230 | report |
| Webo Benchmark | 4173' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Ted Benchmark | 2369' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Lawson Peak | 3664' | 8.1 | 2575' | 4.5 | 220 | report |
| Gaskill Peak | 3836' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Bell Bluff | 3409' | 7.2 | 1800' | 3.5 | 214 | report |
| Los Pinos | 4805' | 7.9 | 2080' | 4 | 260 | report |
| Corte Madera | 4657' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Cody Benchmark | 5586' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Palm Mesa High Point | 4660' | 10.5 | 4560' | 9.25 | 210 | report |
| Ghost Mountain | 3400' | 4.2 | 900' | 2.5 | 240 | report |
| Pike Benchmark | 5571' | 4.9 | 1700' | 3.25 | 40 | report |
| Middle Peak | 5883' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Cuyamaca | 6512' | 18.6 | 3975' | 8.25 | 222 | report |
| Japacha | 5825' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Stonewall Peak | 5730' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Oakzanita | 5054' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Sugg Peak | 5243' | 9.6 | 1750' | 4.5 | 222 | report |
| Pine Mountain | 5640' | 0.5 | 100' | 0.25 | 76 | report |
| Garnet Peak | 5880' | 2.4 | 540' | 1 | 252 | report |
| Garnet Mountain | 5680' | 1 | 200' | 0.5 | 2 | report |
| Roost Benchmark | 4351' | 8 | 2200' | 3.5 | 20 | report |
| Monument Peak | 6271' | 3.5 | 750' | 1.33 | 0 | report |
| Square Top | 4649' | 8.4 | 2950' | 7.75 | 218 | report |
| Mt. Tule | 4647' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Groan Benchmark | 2732' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Gasp Benchmark | 3223' | 11 | 4419' | 8.75 | 274 | report |
| Wooded Hill | 6223' | 1.3 | 299' | 0.5 | 242 | report |
| Manza Benchmark | 5556' | 4.3 | 1048' | 2.3 | 7 | report |
| Pinyon Mountain | 4492' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Whale Peak | 5349' | 7.1 | 2133' | 3.83 | 240 | report |
| Sentenac | 3068' | 2.2 | 900' | 1.16 | 20 | report |
| Mine Peak | 1850' | 1.9 | 707' | 1 | 356 | report |
| Red Hill | 1720' | 3 | 933' | 1.5 | 0 | report |
| Jacumba | 4512' | 6 | 2933' | 5.5 | 0 | report |
| Coyote Mountain | 3192' | 5 | 2650' | 3 | 256 | report |
| Grapevine | 3955' | 6.5 | 2058' | 4.33 | 220 | report |
| Otay Mountain | 3566' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 103 | report |
| Tecate Peak | 3885' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 22 | report |
| Sheephead Mountain | 5896' | 3.5 | 1034' | 2 | 172 | report |
| Morena Butte | 3920' | 9 | 2064' | 4.66 | 246 | report |
| Goat Benchmark | 4232' | 9.4 | 2657' | 6.16 | 210 | report |
| Peak 3339 | 3339' | 8 | 1753' | 4.16 | 288 | report |
| Peak 3640 (North Pinyon) | 3640' | 4.5 | 1665' | 2.5 | 228 | report |
| Split Mountain East | 1690' | 4.1 | 1700' | 3.25 | 302 | report |
| Split Mountain West | 1680' | 5.4 | 1929' | 3.5 | 302 | report |
| Sombrero Peak | 4229' | 3.5 | 2011' | 3 | 354 | report |
| False Sombrero | 3463' | 2 | 1359' | 2.5 | 4 | report |
| Travelers Peak | 2697' | 4.8 | 2326' | 4 | 274 | report |
| Pyramid Peak | 3480' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Rosa Point | 5000' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Mile High Mountain | 5320' | 19.2 | 7107' | 14.75 | 260 | report |
| Villager Peak | 5756' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Vallecito Mountains HP | 3583' | 5.9 | 1415' | 4.5 | 312 | report |
| Sunset Mountain | 3657' | 4 | 1988' | 3.83 | 254 | report |
| Stage Benchmark | 2816' | 11 | 2777' | 6.5 | 270 | report |
| Diablo Benchmark | 2440' | 9.5 | 1362' | 4 | 270 | report |
| Elder Benchmark | 3433' | 6.2 | 2438' | 6.25 | 254 | report |
| Palms Benchmark | 3121' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Collins Benchmark | 4559' | 14.3 | 4313' | 12.25 | 214 | report |
| Knob Benchmark | 3431' | 0 | 0' | 0 | 0 | report |
| Sawtooth Mountains HP | 4684' | 16.8 | 4408' | 13.25 | 288 | report |
| Red Top | 4467' | 16.5 | 4238' | 12.25 | 288 | report |
Congratulations! That's a great accomplishment. Thanks for keeping a solid record for the rest of us to benefit from!
ReplyDeleteChris,
DeleteThanks! I hope you find it useful.
What a great accomplishment, Teke. I'm still impressed at what you've done. I'll be happy with about 50 of them, and it's going to take me a lot longer than you. A couple of questions:
ReplyDelete1 - what were some of the tougher ones? I can deduce some of them by looking at mileage divided by time - the slower ones might have been a lot tougher (not always, I know). But can you address the harder ones?
2 - What IS next? HPS? DPS? Seems like you have some progress towards DPS due to the SD list. Maybe all of the Orange County peaks on Peakbagger? Or will you take up golf?
Well done, Teke.
Mike,
DeleteThanks! 50 SDC peaks is a worthy goal. Here are what I consider the hardest 5 in the list:
1. Red Top
2. Sawtooth HP
3. Mile High Mountain
4. San Ysidro East
5. Eagle Crag
Square Top gets an honorable mention for the class 5 summit, optional according to the Sierra Club. Taking a break from lists to scratch other itches, both in and out of state. There's more in San Diego and Riverside Counties I want to do and some obscure things in the OC.
Congrats! I am still chipping away...
ReplyDeleteDerek,
DeleteThanks! Keep going, you are well on the way. I am going to make it to Burger Bench this year.
Congrats teke! Im a San Diego native and would love to start working on these peaks myself. I would love to hike with you sometime if you are ever in town!
ReplyDeleteUnknown,
DeleteThanks. The peaks are spread all over the county, so probably something close to you. I spend a lot of time in the desert during the cooler months, maybe I'll run into you.
Yeah, maybe Ill see you around! I've been hoping to get out there once winter hits. Would be cool to find a hike from the desert up to some snow coverage.
ReplyDeleteI found your website looking for beta on 'The Thimble', and then went down the rabbithole of a ton of local hike and then Bob Burd's and Peaks for Freaks. I didn't realize how many off trail and challenging/offtrail hikes we had here.
Anyways i've been staring at maps and I just ordered Afoot and Afield in San Diego County, so hoping to start getting some wilderness experience in the local mountains then maybe head out to the Sierras when i've completed school.
Happy hiking!
The Thimble is a great mountain. I really like that Jerry Schad book, used it to plan many hikes. You've started an exciting adventure.
DeleteStarting my first peak now, Mt. Isreal. Should be VERY easy first peak ;)
Delete